My English Speaking Activities For Adults. Part 41. Happy Moments.

Dear English teachers and learners,

The International Happiness day (20th March 2016) helped me to ponder on ways to speak about this topic in class. I was craving to come up with something specific so that this would give a chance to practise a previous Target language and context. Here's what I decided to do with my students.

Task 1. Go to the photo gallery, think and say: Why are these people happy/over the moon/on cloud nine/ jumping for joy? What did it take them to find themselves in this situation? or What will be after this moment?

Task 2. What can bring (un)happiness to a couch potato/a whiz kid/an elderly person/a child/a teacher/an actor/a doctor/a university student/parents/an individual entrepreneur/a sportsman...?

Example: ... is/are happy/upset when/if ...

Example: ... is/are over the moon/downhearted when/if...

Example: ... is/are on cloud nine/disappointed when/if...

(Sample answer: A couch potato is happy if he binge-watches favourite series. A couch potato is downhearted when he's away from home for a long time.)

Task 3. What did these people do so that their dream came true? What happened before these long-expected events?

1. Peter went on a long-expected trip.

2. Jessica gave birth to a long-expected daughter.

3. Brian became a famous actor. His long-expected dream came true.

4. Luke got his long-expected driving license.

5. James graduated from the university with hono(u)rs. It was a long-expected event for him.

6. Phil became a world champion. It was his long-expected victory.

7. It's a long-expected meeting for Stella and Jane.

(Sample answer: James graduated from the university with hono(u)rs. It was a long-expected event for him. It took him 4 years of preparation and research. He devoted a lot of time to self-education. He took extra courses....).

Task 4. Watch the video and say: Is this a useful experiment or is it a waste of time? Would you take part, if you were invited?

Enjoy your every lesson!

Yours,

YK xo